Context always matters when it comes to abhorrent behavior.
The same word can be funny or it can be a dagger. Some words are never okay, even when not used to hurt someone. It is not acceptable for white people to ever use the N-Word. Ever. It doesn’t matter that black men now occasionally use it. Groups that have been oppressed often adopt the hurtful names used by the oppressors and use it among themselves. It robs the word of some of its power. It happens in many cultures. Again, it doesn’t matter that Hunter didn’t believe he used it in a hurtful way. From the Guardian [1]: (Much more below)
The shocking texts may prove embarrassing for his father President Joe Biden [2], who just last week gave a speech decrying racism on the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa massacre, and has sought to portray racial justice as a top priority for his administration.
The president’s son joked in a January 2019 text to corporate attorney George Mesires about a ‘big penis’, and said to the lawyer: ‘I only love you because you’re black’ and ‘true dat n***a’.
It is not the least bit acceptable that Hunter Biden used the word even in a context in which it was not intended to hurt someone. It does hurt people by perpetuating it as a white man. Hunter should be criticized by all sides with disdain. He should issue a sincere apology. And then he should act on that apology, doing something proving he knows it is a serious matter and then demonstrate his sincerity with action.
The right is justified in its anger. This is not a right-left issue.
But in doing so, the MAGA-Right, especially the Trumps, should keep some context in mind while criticizing Hunter. First, obviously, Hunter Biden is not the president of the United States. Donald Trump was the elected president of the United States and he faced accusations that he used the same word. He also uttered the “good people on both sides” thing, which was both racist and anti-Semitic. Second, it is extremely difficult to hear this extreme anger at Hunter while Matt Gaetz sits to this day on the judiciary committee for the sole reason that Gaetz is untouchable. He is too big a Trump supporter to be criticized. It is a little weird that the MAGAs can show appropriate anger about Hunter and yet give Gaetz a pass. Fourth, Hunter has had addiction problems and emotional problems. Poor choices made during issues (we don’t know if he was still struggling) can go hand in hand with intoxication of some kind.
Fifth, Don Jr. is using this as proof that he’s the victim, not our Black American friends. Don Jr. can criticize Hunter’s choices and hurtfulness. Yes. But if and when he or others are charged with felonies, the fact that Hunter Biden “got away with saying…” is not at all relevant to what Hunter did. This is Don Jr.’s tweet. Notice that he doesn’t say anything about it being wrong, or anything of the sort. He wants people to know. There is no reason for him to want people to know, other than to say, “See? I never did that and got criticized anyway.”
Hunter Biden used the n-word multiple times in casual conversation, text messages show | Daily Mail Online #RacistHunter [3] https://t.co/twLDIFGNQ2 [4]
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) June 8, 2021 [5]
As for Hunter, reexamining your life, Hunter. Start thinking about how one works this off. The MAGAs will be MAGAs. If done properly, the left will not forgive you, but it will point out that you took responsibility, owned it, and accept your apology. If done that way, it will be more than the MAGAs can say.
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Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @JasonMiciak